Ruth Hamilton – författare

It was 1950. Magsy O’Gara, her husband killed in the war, plodded through her daily routine as a hospital cleaner, dedicating all her spare time to Beth, her genius daughter. Pursued by men who admired her great beauty, she was determined to remain a widow. Nothing was to divert her from her gruelling schedule. Her goal was simple: Beth would become a doctor.Beth, however, wanted a normal life – a brother, a sister, a stepfather who might make her wonderful mother happy. So Beth was delighted when a personable man began to court Magsy.Across, the road at number 1, Nellie Hulme, trapped in a world of silence, watched the other two Saturday girls. Deaf since infancy, Nellie had a secret so huge that it amused her. What would folk have thought had they known her true position in life? And why did she ‘hear’ in her dreams?

The O'Neils, who have lost brothers and sons into the bowels of London's East End, keep watch over their one remaining young male, a boy named Seamus. Hardworking and good-hearted, they cling together and help each other, and a whole community.Meanwhile, Rosh Allen mourns the loss of Phil, her dearly-beloved husband. Aided and impeded by her mother, Anna, she struggles to raise three fatherless children. With the help of a kind-hearted neighbour, her wounds begin to heal, and she begins to take the first faltering steps into 'normality'.Tess and Don Compton are on the verge of separation. An apparently greedy and selfish woman, Tess wants a semi-detached house, and all her own way. But what really lies behind her desire to live on the posh side of the street.Behind the three families, two men are at work. One will do serious damage; the other will reunite a clan that goes all the way back to Ireland and to ancestors thrown ashore from the ships of the Spanish Armada.Brilliant storytelling that is perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries' The Four Streets or Maureen Lee.

In 1920 the Burton-Masseys lost their home, Pendleton Grange, their lands and several businesses in the heart of Bolton, including Massey’s Yort. Reduced to a life of hardship, Alex Burton-Massey’s widow and daughters took refuge in Caldwell Farm, all that was left of their former wealth.James Mulligan was the man who now owned their lands, and Massey’s Yort quickly became known as Mulligan’s Yard. He was a silent, brooding character whose manners teetered on the brink of rudeness, but in spite of this, many women found him attractive. Who was he? Did he hide a dark secret in the cellars of Pendleton Grange? And why did he involve himself so deeply in the lives of the Burton-Massey girls?

It was 1950. Magsy O’Gara, her husband killed in the war, plodded through her daily routine as a hospital cleaner, dedicating all her spare time to Beth, her genius daughter. Pursued by men who admired her great beauty, she was determined to remain a widow. Nothing was to divert her from her gruelling schedule. Her goal was simple: Beth would become a doctor.Beth, however, wanted a normal life – a brother, a sister, a stepfather who might make her wonderful mother happy. So Beth was delighted when a personable man began to court Magsy.Across, the road at number 1, Nellie Hulme, trapped in a world of silence, watched the other two Saturday girls. Deaf since infancy, Nellie had a secret so huge that it amused her. What would folk have thought had they known her true position in life? And why did she ‘hear’ in her dreams?

In 1930, Bridget O’Brien, a young widow with two children, fled her brutal and bigoted father and headed for Liverpool and an arranged marriage with a man she had never met. Her destination, the famous Scotland Road, was noisome and terrifying and a far cry from the clean air and flowing rivers of the only country she had known, Ireland. When she met her middle-aged bridegroom, Sam Bell, whose twin sons were older than she was, her sense of isolation only increased. Anthony, one of her so-called stepsons, also held out the strong hand of friendship, but Liam, the favourite of his father, had the power to terrify her. Liam was cold, compelling, mysterious and antagonistic. He was also a priest.

To save a child, they would sacrifice everything . . . Comfortably settled into his expatriate life in post-war Britain, Headmaster Theodore's secrets are set to remain deeply buried. Until she breezes in. Tia Bellamy: vivacious, intriguing, a nuisance. Tia cuts through his reserve and, for the first time in years, Theodore finds himself able to confront his past and reveal the events carved into his heart and seared into his soul. Together, they form a strong bond with the residents of the Lady Streets, closely befriending Maggie Stone and her granddaughter, Rosie. But Rosie's mother has issues of her own and Tia and Theodore soon realize that little Rosie might be in danger. Unable to protect the child, they decide to take drastic action . . .

What possible connections might exist between an aged man who used to sell shoes, some ladies of the night, three abused schoolboys, two nuns, two police officers, a philanthropist, a serial killer, a drugs cartel, Lime Street Station and a mansion in Southport in whose grounds donkeys and horses are kept?The answer lies in love, friendship and the determination to endure all the way to the winning post.Eve, owner and madam at Meadowbank Farm, is keen to secure a deal that keeps her in pocket and her clients happy. But is she a match for Babs, a 'Baby Girl' in this house of ill repute? Babs has her own agenda, and in order to fulfil her dream of a decent life, she must first overcome Madam Eve.Meanwhile, a deranged killer walks the Dock Road. 'Inspired' by a vision, he seeks to clean up Liverpool. When he finds Eve's farm, he plans to cast his net on what promises to be a great catch.

Letting go of the past to grasp the future . . .Andrew Sanderson, brilliant surgeon and renowned musician, is still grieving the death of his beloved wife Mary when his younger daughter turns up on the doorstep having left her wealthy and philandering husband.It’s not long before the house is overrun with daughters, grandchildren, sons-in-law and a boisterous stray dog called Storm.At Andrew's time of life, is this really what he needs? One thing is sure, home is a lot more interesting than it once was.As he reminisces about his past and the love he once shared with his wife, Andrew starts to realize that there is indeed a new road to be travelled; he just has to let go of his grief and embrace tomorrow…

Three novels of love, loss and family secrets, from Liverpool's best-loved author. Mersey View: After a long, broken marriage, Lucy Henshaw decides to leave home and start afresh in a beautiful house overlooking the Mersey. With a new life come new friends, but when Lucy's husband falls ill she realises she may not be as far from the past as she thought, and she may need her new friends more than ever. The Liverpool Girl: At the outbreak of World War Two, Eileen's daughter Mel refuses to be evacuated. So Eileen and Mel move away from the street and family they love and face an unknown future together. Thus begins a journey of forbidden love, tragedy and a city left crumbling into the craters by the Luftwaffe. Their lives will never be the same again. Lights of Liverpool: Three families in Liverpool; the O'Neils, the Allens and Tess and Don Compton. Each is struggling to keep their families together. But behind the three families, two men are at work. One will do horrific damage; the other will reunite a clan that descends from Ireland, and ancestors thrown ashore from the ships of the Spanish Armada.

Leanne Chalmers has made a career for herself presenting her own style of home decorating and design on the nation’s screens. That was her past life, at least. For now Leanne has been forced to start again as Lily, leaving her name, job and marriage behind.No-one in the Lancashire village of Eagleton has a clue about Lily, save that she’s come up from the South West with her best friend and a small child. But it’s hard to lead a solitary existence in a small place, and Lily and Babs are swiftly embraced by some of the local characters: Mike, the Catholic priest, who the girls can’t help noticing is easy on the eye; Eve, a Liverpudlian, who has a big mouth but a heart of gold; the hairdressers Paul and Maurice; and Dave and his love, Philly, both shy yet determined not to be cowed by Dave’s mother, the domineering matriarch of the village.Soon, Lily’s new life is full of promise and as she joins Dave’s reading room, a shop come café and library, she begins to relax. But then Eve is wounded in a burglary, and suddenly, Lily is afraid that her secret is out: her husband Clive may have discovered where she is, and, having left her for dead before, is now out to kill her…Full of Ruth Hamilton’s unique warmth and humour, THE READING ROOM is a rich, compelling novel of love, life and courage.

NOT EVEN THE BOMBS THAT DESTROYED THEIR CITY COULD BREAK THEIR SPIRIT ...Three generations of strong, determined women and the war that threatened to tear them apart.In the backstreets of Liverpool, Eileen Watson lives with her mother, Nellie, daughter Mel and her three tear-away sons. Life isn't great, but they have eachother, and family can get you through anything. Or...can it?Then, on the third day in September 1939, Britain declares war on Germany and their lives change forever.The children have to be evacuated, but daughter Mel refuses to go, and so Eileen says goodbye to het mother and sons, moves away from the street they love and faces a future without most of the people in her precious family.Thus begins a journey for them all. A journey filled with forbidden love, tragedy and the terrifying sounds of a city they love crumbling into craters left by the Luftwaffe.Their lives will never be the same again ...

At the age of 45, Lucy Henshaw has finally left home. Her decision to go has been reached neither lightly nor suddenly, since her marriage has been broken for some eighteen years. However, as the mother of twin sons and a daughter, Lucy has felt it her duty to stay as a couple in the family house she was born in near Bolton, giving her children the security she knows they need.Now that her family is grown, content in the knowledge that she loves them, Lucy decides she is free to leave. She secretly purchases a beautiful house overlooking the Mersey, near Liverpool, and there she plans to start afresh. Within hours, she has met some characters: her new neighbour Moira, who is disabled and dying, and sees Lucy as the ideal new companion for her husband, Richard; Shirley Bishop, built like a battleship and a cleaner extraordinaire, towing her several-inches-shorter husband as a handy gardener behind her; and Dr David Vincent, who is grieving for the loss of his young son. It is soon apparent that Lucy need have no anxieties about being lonely.It is these new friends, too, who come to Lucy’s rescue when her husband Alan, falls ill. Always a wastrel and fraudster who has tried to control her, his illness only seems to offer him another opportunity to complicate Lucy's life all over again.Mersey View is a compelling and gritty novel set in Liverpool, and is a wonderful story, rich with warmth and humour, by a much-loved storyteller at the height of her powers.

Agnes Makepeace has always been courageous and strong-minded and on the surface, she couldn’t be more unlike the chilly, reserved Helen Spencer. Agnes knows there is a mystery to her own background and is determined to discover the truth about her past. She believes the key to unlock the secret is held with husband’s employer, Judge Zachary Spencer of Lambert House - a mean-spirited widower and solitary man.Judge Spencer has long neglected his daughter, Helen and notices her even less when he takes a new wife. But he has underestimated both the extent of his daughter’s misery and her determination to enact her revenge. Helen’s new-found confidence causes her to behave in a way that will have a lasting, and shocking impact on both families and, surprisingly, leads to a lifelong friendship with Agnes.Yet it is only when the broodingly silent house on Skirlaugh Rise ceases to hold its breath and deliver the answers that Agnes has been seeking that she can finally find the peace of mind she has always longed for.

This emotional and uplifting saga full of twists and turns by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox. "I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"Another first class read" -- ***** Reader review"Absolutely loved this book. Ruth Hamilton is possibly my favourite author..." -- ***** Reader review"Another great read, didn't want it to end. [I] always feel bereft when I've finished one of Ruth's books" -- ***** Reader review"A very good read. I couldn't put this book down and go to bed. Had to read it all in one go" -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************ONE WOMAN'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND LOVE...Born into the First World War, Dorothy has a bleak childhood under the iron fist of an implacable mother and the silent compliance of a browbeaten father.Her escape is achieved just before the disastrous advent of Hitler, and there is further tragedy to come.Follow her through childhood and adolescence, then on into her twenties. Can she win her own battle for freedom, for love and for her own place in the world?

If you like Dilly Court and Catherine Cookson, you'll love this emotional and powerful story of revenge and retribution from the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton. "I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"Probably the most moving story I have ever read" -- **** Reader review"A fantastic read" -- ***** Reader review"Wonderful author" -- ***** Reader review"Loved it" -- ***** Reader review*****************************************************************************SHE'S VOWED TO TAKE REVENGE, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST...When Bernard Walsh moves his family from Bolton to Liverpool he does not expect the past to pursue him. But Theresa Nolan, consumptive and angry, is bent on revenge and settles within three miles of Bernard's new home, wreaking havoc from the Mersey to the moorlands of Lancashire.Meanwhile, against a backdrop of dissent and violence, two young girls, separated by fate but bound by blood, begin to wend their often troubled way towards the tranquility and comradeship of the Corner House. What does the future hold in store?

This captivating and moving saga full of twists and turns by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox. "I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"Keeps you hooked to the last page" -- ***** Reader review"A wonderful story" -- ***** Reader review"Brilliant as always" -- ***** Reader review**********************************************************THE PAST AND PRESENT ARE ABOUT TO MEET IN TRAGEDYThe Chandlers had been making candles in Bolton for five hundred years, and had given their name to the village of Chandlers Green. The dynasty, now in decline and ruled by Richard Chandler, is reduced to an unhappy household and a few tenanted properties.But Richard continues to behave as though he were lord of the manor. Jean, his wife, is terrified of him; his grown-up children despise him, but fear for their mother if they were to leave home. And now Richard's arch-enemy, Alf Martindale, is planning to move into his village, and Richard knows that the past is catching up with him fast. A crisis forces him to leave his manor for a while, and he has no way of knowing that Jean is arming herself against his return. The past and the present are about to come together in a way that can only end in tragedy...

Help comes from a curious source after a family tragedy in this heart-wrenching but wholesome saga. From the SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, Ruth Hamilton, perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox.'Very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well' - SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR'I have read about five books by Ruth Hamilton but this one I have enjoyed the most... it was so touching' - ***** Reader Review'A very enjoyable book - I read it very quickly as it the story is so captivating.' - ***** Reader Review'Ruth's usual high standard. An engrossing and enjoyable read.' - ***** Reader Review****************************************************HOW CAN SHE HELP A GRIEVING FAMILY?When Matthew's beloved wife Molly died, her son Mark grieved as much as anyone.Since he was a small boy his mother had suffered from the illness that eventually took her, and now at sixteen, Mark longed to earn his father's respect by assisting with the family business. But his father, in grief, seemed beyond help.Tilly Povey, famous for her whiplash tongue, watched the boy's lonely existence with a heavy heart. Stella, Molly's sister, now a doctor, she had always loved Matthew, and also wondered whether he might, perhaps, turn to her in his hour of need.Matthew, obsessed with his loss, was gradually falling apart and none of those who were closest to him could, it seemed, do anything to help. But Tilly, whose uncompromising exterior hid a warm heart, was determined to help this troubled family...

This emotional and uplifting saga full of twists and turns by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox. "I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"Another first class read" -- ***** Reader review"Absolutely loved this book. Ruth Hamilton is possibly my favourite author..." -- ***** Reader review"Another great read, didn't want it to end. [I] always feel bereft when I've finished one of Ruth's books" -- ***** Reader review"A very good read. I couldn't put this book down and go to bed. Had to read it all in one go" -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************ONE WOMAN'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND LOVE...Born into the First World War, Dorothy has a bleak childhood under the iron fist of an implacable mother and the silent compliance of a browbeaten father.Her escape is achieved just before the disastrous advent of Hitler, and there is further tragedy to come.Follow her through childhood and adolescence, then on into her twenties. Can she win her own battle for freedom, for love and for her own place in the world?

This heart-wrenching, moving and emotional saga full of twists and turns and highlighting the importance of love and understanding by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is a must - read for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox."I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"This book kept me enthralled to the very last page" -- ***** Reader review"A riveting read. Couldn't put it down." -- ***** Reader review"As always an impeccable story by Ruth, sadness, happiness and in between hilarious wit. A must read book which you will be loathe to put down." -- ***** Reader review"A truly superb book" -- ***** Reader review****************************************************************************WILL ONE FRIENDSHIP CHANGE THINGS FOREVER?Despite her strict 1950s Catholic upbringing, Madeleine Horrocks, doesn't understand why religion seems to force people apart. But her friend Amy has been brought up to believe that mixing with other religions results in eternal damnation, and when Maddy becomes friendly with George, a local, good-looking Jewish boy, Amy fears the worst. But as they grow up she, too, becomes friends with George, as well as with other young teenagers who meet secretly at the Bell House, an ancient place of burial.When a body is found in the nearby reservoir they all become threatened by tragedy and danger.Meanwhile, Father Sheahan, the whisky-soaked priest from the local church, has discovered that his secret past is catching up with him.Bigotry, lust and hatred have been so much a part of this community that it takes the combined forces of young and old - and particularly George's formidable grandmother Yuspeh - to bring everyone together and move forward positively.

Catherine Cookson fans will love this heart-warming saga set in Lancashire from The Sunday Times bestseller Ruth Hamilton. You won't want to put it down... "Very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" - Sarah Broadhurst on Radio Four. "Gritty, down-to-earth writing and strong female characters have become the trademarks of her writing" -- Bookworld"I really do not know what to say about this book, it is the most moving story I have ever read. In places it made me laugh, and in many places it made me cry. Absolutely excellent." -- ***** Reader review."Another excellent book from Ruth Hamilton. I read every night in bed and am always reluctant to switch off my Kindle as I want to know what happens next in the story." -- ***** Reader review."Ruth Hamilton has exceeded all expectations [-] another successful novel..." -- ***** Reader review. "Really enjoying this book. Can't wait to pick it up again." -- ***** Reader review. **************************SHE'LL NEED ALL HER STRENGTH TO SURVIVE...Life is tough and conditions are squalid for the residents of Myrtle Street, in the shadow of the Althorpe mills.Joe Duffy, a Bolton tradesman, strives to lift his family out of the 'garden' streets. But as more children are born, Joe's wife Tess sinks deeper into the obsession that will be her undoing. Few people heed her ravings saying that the area is cursed. She is ignored, even as the Myrtle Street tragedies become more frequent and begin to feature in local gossip.It is left to Megan, the third Duffy child to end the curse. When she becomes embroiled in a web of deceit, Megan needs all her strength, talents, and wit in order to survive and ensure her family's stability and the future of the Althorpe cotton mills.

This moving and captivating novel will keep you glued to the page and invested from the off. From the SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, Ruth Hamilton, perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox.'Very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well' - SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR'This book breaks your heart, it is rare to find a book which stirs so many emotions.' - ***** Reader Review'I couldn't bear to turn off my Kindle... Another great read from Ruth.' - ***** Reader Review'Great story. Found myself not wanting to stop reading.' - ***** Reader Review****************************************************ONE WOMAN'S FIGHT TO FORGE HER OWN FUTURE...Laura Starling, now wealthy and successful, has survived a bitter past.She fled from a tyrannical mother into the clutches of a sadistic man. She endured poverty, fear and pain. Then along came Ben Starling, older, wiser, who smoothed her path and gave her love and security.But now Ben has become a stranger who has slipped beyond her reach. As her stability threatens to disintegrate once more, a thin, waif-like girl from Liverpool thrusts her way into Laura's life - a girl who is to prove a link with the past.But no one can help Laura make the decisions that will alter the course of her existence. As the September starlings gather, Laura realises she must take courage and forge her own future...

Lose yourself in this intelligent and emotional novel with a darker edge and the superb characterisation we've come to expect from Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton. Fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox won't be disappointed.'Very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well' - Sarah Broadhurst on Radio Four'A fantastic read but not a surprise. Ruth Hamilton books are first class.' -- ***** Reader review'I have read all of Ruth Hamilton books and for me this is one of her best.' -- ***** Reader review'Great story. Ruth Hamilton is a wonderful story teller. I will buy all that she writes.' -- ***** Reader review'Brilliant read, Ruth Hamilton at her best.' -- ***** Reader review****************************************************TRAGEDY FOLLOWS HONORIA WEST, BUT WHO CAN STOP HER...The West Family at Moortop Farm should have led settled and happy lives. They were affluent, had a superb old farmhouse, and were blessed with three daughters, Hyacinth, Hilda - and Honoria. But even from childhood Honoria cast a pall of fear and suspicion over the family.Violent and unpleasant things happened and although they were dismissed as accidents, both Honoria's parents and her older sister, Hyacinth, became increasingly alarmed.As the years passed, Honoria's worst excesses were concealed from the world, but even so, in her new life in Liverpool, her evil affected those about her.But it was April, frail and struggling against a serious illness, who was to be the one to finally destroy Miss Honoria West.Rich in character and action, Ruth Hamilton's gritty and masterful writing builds to a resounding and powerful climax in yet another unforgettable novel.

Perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, a moving and emotional saga of fierce passions set in the Lancashire cotton mills from the Sunday Times bestseller Ruth Hamilton. "Very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" - Sarah Broadhurst on Radio Four. "This book captures your heart..." - ***** Reader review."From start to finish I was gripped, full of twists and turns that keep you hooked at all times..." - ***** Reader review. Ruth Hamilton [-] excellent excellent excellent..." - ***** Reader review. ************************Can you love and hate someone in equal measure?1904. Despite their riches and wealth, the Swainbank family cannot find peace. The poor Maguires are destitute but proud. There is no love lost between the two families.When Richard Swainbank and Philly Maguire first meet, a train of overpowering love, passion, hatred and secrecy is born, which would dog the two rival families for years and years, and have far reaching consequences...

This emotional and uplifting saga full of twists and turns by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is a must - read for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox."I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"Read this book several times now. Can't put it down. Keep going back to it." -- ***** Reader review"Love Ruth Hamilton books. Always a good read." -- ***** Reader review"Enjoyed the book very much, just couldn't put it down." -- ***** Reader review************************************************************************CAN SHE FIND THE COURAGE SHE NEEDS?Kate Murray's father had never forgiven her for being born a girl: scrawny, red-haired, under-weight, and the last child his wife would bear, his hatred for his younger child was intense.Growing up in a world of constant rejection and seeing the way her Lancashire 'respectable poor' family tried to hide the cracks of a bad and violent marriage, she determined to find a life - a world where she was loved, was successful and where people were proud of her.Will she find the courage and fortitude she needs to become the woman she wants to be - successful, warm, forgiving, and able to give the love she had so lacked in her own life?

An emotional and heart-warming saga set in the Lancashire cotton mills from The Sunday Times bestseller Ruth Hamilton, perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson."Very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" - Sarah Broadhurst on Radio Four. "I love this woman's ability to draw me into a story where I can relate to the time and events in most of her tales." -- ***** Reader review"Excellent. Could not put book down. Ruth Hamilton is a brilliant writer." -- ***** Reader review"This is one book I will be keeping on my bookshelf to read again..." -- ***** Reader review***********************************WILL HER FORTUNE EVER CHANGE? 1940. Lancashire. Annie Byrne is born during one of the toughest winters ever remembered. It's a fitting start to a life which will turn out to be full of trials and hardships.When her father dies during the war, her mother Nancy - a spinner in a cotton mill - marries Eddie Higson: a nightmare of a man who delights in tormenting the young Annie with one secret evil after another.The years pass and Annie determines to fight the legacy of her childhood. Can she do this on her own and will her fortune ever change?

A gripping and heart-warming saga set in Lancashire from The Sunday Times bestseller Ruth Hamilton, perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson. Guaranteed to keep you turning the page..."These are echoes of Cookson with its story of great homes where dark secrets lurk in the shadows." -- PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH"A thoroughly enjoyable book, rich in gossip and events." -- LIVERPOOL DAILY POST"Another compelling family saga lets you take Bolton with you to the beach!" -- BOLTON EVENING NEWS"[My mother is] loving every minute of reading this enchanting and spellbinding story..." -- ***** Reader review. "BRILLIANT BOOK AS ALWAYS READ ALL THE BOOK IN ONE GO" -- ***** Reader review. **************************ALL SHE EVER WANTED WAS THE CHANCE TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR HERSELF...Jennifer Crawley, eighteen, leads a strange and lonely life - her days in the spinning room of the cotton mill, her nights with possessive - and slightly mad - Aunt Mavis. When she's offered the chance to work as a servant at Skipton Hall, she sees this as a chance to better herself.Yet the household is as dangerous and weird as the one she left behind. Mrs Sloane, the terrifying housekeeper, takes pleasure in bullying and frightening the young maids; Henry Skipton is an embittered, solitary man who never takes the time to see his invalid wife, Eloise Skipton, who lays bed-ridden, feeding on hatred and plotting vengeance on the man she married.When she first sets eyes on young Jenny, she realizes she has found the perfect weapon for revenge...But Jenny and her friend, Maria Hesketh - her character as fiery as her hair - are determined that they will make something of their lives and succeed in spite of everything...

This dramatic, heart-wrenching and emotional saga full of twists and turns, leading up to a violent and terrible climax, by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is a must - read for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox."I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR'Couldn't put it down!' -- ***** Reader review'Loved every last word.' -- ***** Reader review'The book captures you from the first page.' -- ***** Reader review'Ruth Hamilton never fails to get my attention from the first page.' -- ***** Reader review****************************************************WILL LOVE BE ENOUGH TO PROTECT HER?There were only four houses in Paradise Lane, and young Sally Crumpsall lives at No.1. With a father too ill to care for her, and a mother who is to abandon her, she leads a ragged and lonely existence.When - finally - both mother and father have gone, the kindly inhabitants of the Lane, with the help of Ivy, Sally's old and stubbornly aggressive grandmother, decide to raise Sally as best they could.But Paradise Lane is built in the shadow of Paradise Mill - and Andrew Worthington, owner of the mill, looms menacingly over the lives of everyone about him. A corrupt, evil and greedy man, he has totally destroyed his own family, and soon his venom is directed towards Ivy, her friends in Paradise Lane, and finally even young Sally...Only the combined efforts of all who love the young girl will be enough to save her...